I am picking up a Lyman mould for the #358156 bullet for my .357 Magnum and .38-44 revolvers. Both sized at .358 and this will be my first time casting and sizing bullets with gas checks. Do you prefer a Lyman or Hornady and will the standard 35 cal gas checks work?

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Vaya con Dios

Generally whichever is cheaper. Hornady has been considerably cheaper. Yup, 35 cal.

i have that mould, and Hornady gas checks won't fit. Your mileage may vary, though.

Current Lyman gas checks ARE Hornady, at least some calibers. .35 caliber is correct. Buy whichever are cheapest, or available. I have cast and shot thousands of 358156 in the last 50 years, and all of them were gas checked with Hornady checks for as long as they have been selling them.

The way to tell which Lyman gas checks are their product, or re-packaged Hornady, is by color. Lyman checks are made of brass and are yellow. Hornady checks are made of copper and are distinctly red. If the checks in a Lyman box are red, then they were made by.................................................Hornady.

The only reason I can see scattershot has problems is his 358156 mould has an improperly sized check shank.

In years past, Lyman checks were straight sided on the inside. Hornadys are thicker at the top of the check so they will crimp into the bullet.

The Lyman's I have that are marked $5.85/1000 are brass looking, but the newer ones look more like gilding material.

Been shooting that bullet for a long time, it's a favorite.

FWIW, for my non magnum loads, I omit the GC and they shoot straight and true w/o leading.

Also, I have both GC's and they work equally well for me. Go with the best deal.

You might also look into Gator gas checks at:

Group buy or not. Larry is at
Bullet Swaging Supply
303 McMillan Road
West Monroe, LA 71291
(318) 387-7257
Fax (318) 325-7034

You also might want to look here: Cast Bullet Gas Check Shank Sizes from Gator

The Cast Boolit ordering site is linked here Ordering GC's from Blammer #2 - Cast Boolits

.358" checks are $19/1000 plus shipping of $8 (for up to 5000 checks)

Patmarlins- Specialty Products for Casting and Reloading

Both of Pat Marlin's products are on my wishlist.

I have had good results with that bullet run under 1050 fps sans gc.

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Front sight and squeeze